A SUCCESSFUL 2019 DESERT TRIPIN THE BOOKS & FULL OF GREAT MEMORIES!

WHAT IS MPE?CLICK HERE FOR A CAMPER'S PERSPECTIVE ON HER WEEK IN THE DESERT ...

The Mojave Primitive Encampment (MPE) is a program for all Girl Scouts in grades 6-9 in the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles council. This program is staffed by parents, troop leaders, and volunteers from the South Bay area. The primitive camping experience provides a week of outdoor high adventure, fun, challenge, and opportunity to work in patrols with girls from other troops.

There are two parts to the program:

1) Two in-town workshops and three patrol meetings that end in an overnight camp out ("tryouts"). The in-town workshops teach outdoor survival skills, primitive camping skills, first aid, using a compass, cooking, fire building, safety, knots, and lashing. Patrol meetings allow the girls to bond and practice their outdoor skills.

2) For those that demonstrate strong camping skills, a great attitude, and show us that they're ready to go, a desert encampment during Spring Break - a five day adventure to the Mojave Desert. The dates are chosen each year by the program to allow as many girls as possible to attend. Some years, the dates mirror the Torrance Unified School District; other years, they mirror other school districts or that of private schools. The girls hike to a desert oasis of wild mint, nut trees, and wild onions. Their days are filled with belayed (roped) rock rappelling and climbing, skills contests, crafts like leather work and soap / wood carving, and hiking to the water hole. Returning campers go on an overnight backpack in the back country. All campers have the opportunity to traverse the canyon on a zip line. The girls work together to cook their meals over wood fires they build. And every day ends with campfires, skits, songs, and late night snacks.

Look into this program for a unique and rewarding experience for your daughter. We welcome parents who want to be a part of the encampment program. And please make sure the other girls in your troop - and in your service unit - hear about this opportunity.

To learn more about the program, we have an Information Night in Fall. Come see why this is the wildest Spring Break trip around! You'll see pictures and video from last year, learn more about the program, and see items from our campsite. See the Calendarpage for this year's schedule.

Still Have Questions?

Would you like more information? Use the Contact Us form to get in touch with us!

THE PROCESS:

Requirements:

Girls need to be members of the Girl Scouts in order to participate in
any Mojave Primitive Encampment activities. If a girl is not a member,
we will register her (with an additional GS registration fee) before she
can participate in any Mojave activity.

Girls wanting to attend the desert encampment must be willing to attend a
series of activities to prepare and show their readiness.

PART 1: In-TOWN ACTIVITIES

Workshops -- two skills workshops are held in January. Girls are instructed in using a compass, fire building, first aid, tents, lashing, use of hand tools, survival skills, camp cooking, and desert camping techniques. Potential desert campers are encouraged to attend both workshops since each workshop covers different skills the girls will need for the encampment. Girls attending one but not both workshops will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in terms of receiving a desert invitation (and those girls will need to attend three patrol meetings). Girls are welcome to register for the in-town activities in order to gain outdoor skills even without planning to attend the desert encampment. Sorry, but there are no "make-ups" for the workshops.

In-Town Patrol Meetings - girls will be assigned to a patrol - and the patrol will meet three times between the first workshop and the in-town tryouts. Girls are required to attend two of the patrol meetings - but encouraged to attend all three. (Girls only attending one workshop will need to attend three patrol meetings). Girls will have the opportunity to practice their skills at these patrol meetings, bond with their patrol, as well as plan their tryout activities. If a girl does not attend at least two patrol meetings, she can attend the in-town tryouts but will not be eligible for a desert invitation. Girls attending the workshops but no patrol meetings are not eligible to attend the tryouts weekend.

Overnight Tryouts - the overnight, in-town camp-out is held in late February or early March. This overnight gives campers a chance to demonstrate their camping skills and have fun! The girls are evaluated on their camping skills through observation, oral, and written testing. There is a gear check to confirm that girls are able to pack the necessary gear for a desert trip. The girls are also observed for demonstrating appropriate safety skills in the use of various camp tools. Potential campers are evaluated on their interaction within their patrol - working on their assigned tasks and taking direction and initiative in various patrol settings. Attitudes of the potential campers are also evaluated over the course of the weekend and factor into desert acceptance. Girls must be present at the tryouts (8:30AM Saturday through 12:00Noon Sunday) - including spending the night - or will not be eligible to receive a desert invitation.

PART 2: DESERT ENCAMPMENT

Girls who qualify at the overnight tryouts will be notified via e-mail the day after the tryouts conclude.

There is a mandatory meeting in early March (Saturday evening, 7PM, Camp Eucalyptus) for all girls choosing to attend the desert encampment along with their parent or guardian. Attending this meeting is a requirement to attend the desert encampment. Information will be given about the desert trip to both girls and parents and girls will be placed into patrols.

The MISCs will hold three patrol meetings before the desert trip - and girls are required to attend two of the three.

We load the gear truck (Columbia Park - time TBA) with all camper gear two or three days before the desert trip. All girls are required to have their gear on the truck - no camping gear is taken on the bus. Girls bring their 10 essentials in a small daypack with them on bus day.

The girls take a bus to/from the desert camp. All campers are required to use the bus transportation - we are not set-up to have parents bring their daughters late or pick up their daughters early from the encampment except in cases of illness or emergencies. There is no cell service in our camping area but we have an in-town contact who can relay emergency messages.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Adults are welcome to become involved with the Mojave Primitive Encampment. MA's and PA's are adult volunteers (members of Girl Scouts and background checked) who help to ensure the safety of the girls who participate in MPE.

WE REALLY NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

Whether it's helping out with tryouts or coming out to the desert, we need adult volunteers to help our campers have the best experience at MPE!